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Cochran Closes Career at U.S. Champs

by

USSA

2012-03-29 15:45

Two-time Olympian Jimmy Cochran closed a nine-year career with the U.S. Ski Team after winning the opening run of slalom in Winter Park (USSA/Tom Kelly)

WINTER PARK, CO (March 29) - Two-time Olympian Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH) said goodbye to a successful nine-year career with the U.S. Ski Team following the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships slalom at sunny Winter Park. A member of the famous "Skiing Cochran's" family, Cochran was on both the 2006 and 2010 U.S. Olympic Teams, raced in three World Championships and captured four U.S. titles. His grandfather Mickey was U.S. head coach in 1974, his dad Bobby and three aunts were Olympians and cousins Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT) and Robby Kelley (Starksboro, VT) are current members of the U.S. Ski Team. He was in a position to win the men's U.S. slalom title with an opening run victory, but hooked a tip in the final handing the crown to Tommy Ford (Bend, OR).

HIGHLIGHTS

Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH) skied his last race run with the U.S. Ski Team at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships slalom.

Over nine seasons, Cochran skied in two Olympics, three World Championships and captured four U.S. titles.

A member of the "Skiing Cochran's" family, Cochran's grandfather Mickey was a U.S. Ski Team coach in 1974, his father Bobby and three aunts were also Olympians.

Cousins Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT), who captured the 2012 Junor World Championships downhill title, and Robby Kelley (Starksboro, VT) are members of the U.S. Ski Team.

Cochran plans to return to school and spend time working at the family owned ski area in Vermont, in addition to the family maple syrup business - Slopeside Syrup.

QUOTESJimmy CochranI’d like to do that one [his final run] again but that’s ski racing.

As for my career I had a great time, really fortunate, I feel like I have been living a charmed life the past eight years I’ve been doing this. I met a lot of great people and traveled to a lot of great places. This isn’t a bad place to end it, nice day, nice people and a nice hill. I think I did my first race as a ski team member on that hill right over there so it’s a good place to do the last one too - full circle.

I'm excited to head home, maybe go back to school and spend a lot of time at the ski area. It's been a lot of fun working there over the years and seeing so many young skiers grow up racing at Cochran's. It's also been really cool working on Slopeside Syrup with my family. The sugar bush is definitely a lot of work, but it's rewarding work and I appreciate that.

For sure this is bittersweet, there's always more you want to do with your career, more that you want to accomplish, but I feel incredibly fortuate in being able to have ski racing as a part of my life.

Ryan Cochran-SiegleHaving Jimmy as a cousin and a mentor has been amazing. He always has incredibly insightful advice on skiing and I'm going to miss that, but I know I'll still get to see him at home.

He has a lot of passion for skiing and has been a big part of Cochran's ski area throughout his life. I'm sure he's psyched to get back to Vermont.

Tommy FordIt would have been great to see Jimmy come down competitive in the final, but things like that happen in slalom. It would have been more exciting for me if he would have been able to finish today.

Being around Jimmy has always been a blast. I remember my first U.S. Championships and he gave me a U.S. Ski Team speed suit. It's kind of sad to see him finish off his career here.

My family and his family have always been close and he's been an important part of our team over the years and was a big influence on my skiing. I'm giong to miss him on tour.